SWIMkids USA is lead by a group of talented and energetic professionals dedicated to your child's success in swimming, gymnastics and dance. We have redefined the "lesson" experience for thousands of children by providing a unique, creative, animated and remarkably challenging style of teaching that keep children active, smiling and safe!
SWIMkids USA offers your child the safest, most effective aquatic training in the world, in a warm nurturing environment.
 Allison Price | Gymnastics and Dance Program Director and Instructor
Allison started dance training when she was 3 at the Worley Ellis Studio in Wilcox, AZ. She continued training at both facilities until age 14 when she moved to the Phoenix Valley where she trained at DancEnergy for 5 more years. She was also a member of their competition company for 4 years. In 2004, she began teaching all types of dance including tap, ballet and jazz. In 2006, Allison joined the staff at SWIMkids USA and is pursuing her degree in Speech Therapy from Mesa Community College.
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 Amanda Acuna | Aquatic Director, Coach and Aquatic Instructor
Amanda Acuña has been working with children for more than 15 years. Some of her past positions include babysitting and tutoring, teaching preschool and working in a special needs classroom for an elementary school. She started swimming and competing at a young age, became a lifeguard as a teenager and worked as an aquatic instructor for a local city for 10 years. She became part of the SWIMkids family in 2007. She enjoys helping children find confidence in themselves and teaching them new skills. "One of the most rewarding parts of working with children is helping them discover that with determination, patience and practice, they can surprise even themselves with what they can accomplish." Amanda is currently a resident of Gilbert, where she loves to spend time with her husband and two daughters.
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 Angie Bagnoli | Aquatic Instructor and Customer Service Representative
Angie Bagnoli loves working with kids. "I love watching the kids get excited any time they accomplish a goal and to see how much they love being at SWIMkids USA. I love how everything is new and exciting through every child’s eyes, they make me appreciate how great life is." Before joining SWIMkids USA in 2010, Angie worked at a daycare for over two years. She is engaged to her boyfriend of nine years.
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 Annette Bailey | Booking Manager
Annette Bailey, SWIMkids USA Front Desk Superstar, joined Swimkids in 1999. She was born in Cedar City, Utah and served a Latter Day Saints mission in England for two years. Annette brought many years of customer service experience to SWIMkids USA. She attended beauty school and was a hair stylist for many years. Then, she and her husband owned a Dunkin Donuts for fourteen years and a Blimpie’s for six years.
In her free time, Annette dabbles in real estate and watches sports. She is very proud of her four children and six grandchildren. She loves life and working here.
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 Brandon Whitehead | Coach, Aquatic Instructor and Deck Manager
After growing up in the Valley, Brandon Whitehead joined the family business and began teaching for SWIMkids USA 16 years ago. Brandon served two years on a church mission in West Virginia and then graduated from Mesa Community College and from RSSA as a Certified Nursing Assistant. He is certified by USA Swimming as a coach, by the U.S. Swim School Association and by the American Red Cross in CPR and as a lifeguard. Currently at SWIMkids USA, he is a swim instructor, deck manager and swim team coach. Married in 1999, Brandon and his wife have a baby boy. When Brandon lost his first son to leukemia in 2006, he and his family established Blake’s Miracle Foundation to create something positive from the loss. In his free time, Brandon enjoys riding his ATV and playing his XBOX.
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 Brian St. Aubin | Deck Manager, Retail Manager and Aquatic Instructor
Brian St. Aubin taught swimming and diving at the City of Phoenix before joining SWIMkids USA in 2009. Working with kids "brightens his day." "It is rewarding to teach a child to survive and take care of themselves," says Brian. In his free time, he has a one-man band named "Will & I" and enjoys traveling and reading. He plans to run with the bulls in Pamplona in the future.
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 Britt Kimball | Marketing Manager and Aquatic Instructor
Britt Kimball grew up in east Phoenix. At an early age, she remembers taking summer swim lessons and wanting to be a swim instructor. She went to Rice University in Houston, where she majored in Sociology and Behavioral Sciences. She took life guarding as a Physical Education class and worked for three summers at the YMCA and at a backyard swim school. Following her interest in event planning, she worked for the Old Pecan Street Festival in Austin, the Tempe Festival of the Arts, and the Arizona Hospitality Expo. In 1999, she received her Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University and in 2003, she became a Certified Festival and Event Executive. She joined SWIMkids USA in 2004 as a swim instructor and now also is the marketing manager. She also teaches Sociology at Chandler Gilbert Community College. She loves children's energy, enthusiasm and frankness. She paints her toenails bright colors to keep her students attention underwater. She enjoys family time with her two daughters, scrapbooking, and being active.
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 Bryan Crane | Curriculum Manager and Aquatic Instructor
Bryan started in September 2003 and is currently the Curriculum Manager. Since 1991, Bryan's professional aquatic experience began as a Pool Manager and Aquatics Director. His experience includes Head Swim Coach at Pullman High School, Spokane Waves Aquatic Association, Stephen Wise Aquatic Team, Whitworth College, as well as assistant coach for Desert Thunder Aquatic Club.
Bryan completed studies in Kinesiology at Whitworth College in Spokane, WA. He applies his expertise in education and development of swimming athletes. He is a certified coach with United States Swimming. From 2000 to 2005, Bryan attended and contributed to the Boomer and Paradigm Clinics at the Olympic Training Centers. During this time, he had the opportunity to work and discuss with some of the greatest swimmers and coaches in the world on issues concerning aquatic development for infants through elite level competitive swimmers.
Bryan’s passion in aquatics is to see children develop from infancy through swim team so they can develop a life-long love for the water. His love for the water began at the age of 9-months when his family would take him swimming in a backyard pool. He continued to swim by playing in the Mediterranean Sea while his father was stationed in Sicily with the US Navy. At the age of 10, Bryan’s family returned to Washington State where he joined a year-round swim team and swam competitively through college. Bryan swims on the Master’s team he started at the Chandler High School Aquatic Center and plays in the ocean when he gets a chance.
Along with his love and respect of the water, he is also an avid road and mountain biker who also enjoys backpacking, hiking and camping. He enjoys spending time with his family playing on the trampoline, barbequing, cooking s’mores over a backyard campfire and just relaxing with a fun movie.
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 Bryce Whitehead | Assistant Head Coach
Bryce Whitehead grew up at SWIMkids USA, his family's business. He began swimming at three weeks old and swam competitively for USA Swimming and in high school. He began working at SWIMkids USA in 1997 and currently works as a Swim Instructor, Coach, and Deck Manager. He says that working with "children makes my day so much better. They always make me laugh!"
He served on a church mission in Peru 2004-2006. He is currently attending Arizona State University in general studies. In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, scuba diving, and watching ESPN.
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 Chet Lake | Aquatic Instructor and Coach
Chet Lake joined SWIMkids USA in 2008. He served on a church mission to El Savador where he learned Spanish. He is currently working on his computer science degree from Mesa Community College. He enjoys working with children because they are so funny and so much fun. "Their innocence and purity are very refreshing in the world that we live in." He enjoys teaching children how to be safe in the water and seeing them learn, grow, and succeed. "These kids amaze me everyday." He comes from a family of four children. In his free time, he enjoys exercising and sports.
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 Chris Olkowski | Coach, Aquatic Instructor, Deck Manager and Customer Service Representative
Chris Olkowski was born on a farm in Queen Creek and attended Dobson High School. He competed in track and field at the collegiate level and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Business Advertising. He has been an aquatics instructor for nine years and with SWIMkids USA as an instructor, coach, deck manager, and front desk representative since 2001. He is also a certified yoga instructor, USA Swimming official at swim meets, and locksmith. In his free time, he enjoys running, singing karaoke, and hanging out with friends Chris’s cheerfulness and sense of humor are valued by his fellow employees.
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 Cyrena Price | Assistant Business Manager, Booking Manager, and Gym/Dance Instructor
Cyrena Price grew up in Willcox, Arizona. She began working at SWIMkids USA in 2006 as a gym and dance instructor. In her free time, she enjoys camping and fishing.
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 Danny White | Gym and Aquatic Instructor
Danny White attended Mesquite High School, the oldest of three siblings (his sister Sami works here too). He joined SWIMkids USA in 2010 as a gym and aquatic instructor and loves helping kids to increase their strength, confidence, and abilities. He has attended Chandler/Gilbert Community College, University of Hawaii, and Arizona State University, working on a degree in Exercise Science. He enjoys staying active by doing martial arts and sports as well as meeting new people.
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 Elizabeth Ashe
Bio coming soon.
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 Erin Boelter
Bio coming soon.
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 Ethan Price
Bio coming soon.
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 Eva Brocki | Gym Instructor
Eva Brocki was born in the Czech Republic and came to the United States in 1998. In high school, she participated in volleyball and gymnastics. She worked as a nanny for seven years and began working as a preschool teacher five years ago. She joined SWIMkids USA in 2008 as a gym instructor. She says that "working with children is her passion. I like to see their faces when they accomplish a new skill or move up." She has a son and is married to swim instructor James. She likes to work out at the gym and eat healthy.
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 Haley Price | Customer Service Director, Booking Manager, and Gym and Dance Instructor
Haley Price has worked at SWIMkids USA since 2007 after working in hospitality and air travel. She has been dancing since age three and teaching since high school. She likes teaching kids because "It’s so rewarding to watch them learn and grow and getting to help turn them into who they want to be." She enjoys working with two of her four sisters here at SWIMkids USA, as well as dancing and reading.
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 Jen Hamilton
Bio coming soon.
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 Jesse Dickerson | Facilities Manager, Deck Manager and Aquatic Instructor
Jesse Dickerson grew up in the small town of Cliff in New Mexico. He worked as a lifeguard at Western New Mexico University and at Silver City Country Club. He served a church mission in the Dominican Republic for two years and then worked in Puerto Rico for six months. He joined SWIMkids USA in 2004 and currently works as the Facilities Manager, and as a Deck Manager and Swim Instructor. He believes that swimming is the best activity for children’s overall development. He married his long-time friend Lindsay last year. In his free time, he enjoys fishing and boating.
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 Jonathan Radford | Aquatic Instructor
Jonathan is a third generation Arizonan and has lived all around the state. His parents and older sister are educators and his oldest sister a Hodgkin’s Cancer survivor. His experience working with children began as a Sunday school teacher and as a children’s ministry puppeteer. Jon is pleased to watch his students accomplish their goals, become safe in the water, and enjoys giving them the drive for his students to give their best. He loves creating a fun and safe place for children to learn about swimming. As a Deck Manager, Jon takes pleasure in interacting with both parents and students to solve their needs. During his time off, Jon likes to make faces in the mirror, practice annoying sounds with his mouth, sing out loud, play games, whistle with his tongue, grow beards, study, drive, fly helicopters, and be there for the ones he loves. Currently he is attending Arizona State University, studying American History, Political Science and Army ROTC. He is a U.S. Army Scholarship winner; upon graduating in 2012, he will commission as a Lieutenant in the United States Army, branching in a Military Police unit or flying helicopters. After he is finished serving his country, Jonathan plans to join the Highway Patrol and serve his State.
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 Justin Richardson | Aquatic Instructor
Justin Richardson joined SWIMkids USA as an aquatic instructor in 2010 after teaching for three years at the City of Scottsdale. Justin likes working with kids because it’s "very rewarding to see them succeed." He will be starting at Arizona State University in the fall of 2010. He enjoys working out five times a week.
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 Kayleen Palmer
Bio coming soon.
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 Lance Whitehead | Accounting Manager
Lance Whitehead has been working for SWIMkids USA since 1995. As the eldest son of owner and founder, Lana Whitehead, Lance is THE original student for SWIMkids USA’s famous Swim-Float-Swim sequence that has helped to keep so many children safe and swimming happily.
When you come in during the holidays you will notice how wonderfully decorated the front desk is. Thanks to Lance’s creativity and hard work, SWIMkids USA becomes a holiday wonderland respective the seasonal holiday. Lance takes great joy in seeing the kids’ faces light up with excitement at the extraordinary decorations.
Lance is the eldest of three boys. Lance’s mother, Lana, is the founder and owner of SWIMkids USA, established in 1971.
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 Laura Blazev | Gym/Dance Instructor
Laura Blazev joined SWIMkids USA as a Gym and Dance Instructor in 2010, after dancing since she was three and teaching for the past few years. She loves teaches kids: "The kids light up my day. I love being able to move, laugh and connect with kids for a living." Laura is majoring in Family and Human Development at Arizona State University. For fun, she dances with a Greek folk dance troop and has a cake decorating business.
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 Lauren Anderson
Bio coming soon.
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 Maribel Turner | Aquatic Instructor
Maribel Turner was born and raised between Gardena, CA and in Peoria, AZ. She received her Child Development Accreditation from South Mountain Community College, worked at daycares, and worked as a Certified Dental Assistant.
Wanting to be with kids again, Maribel joined SWIMkids USA in 2007 and works as the Assistant Business Manager, a Booking Manager, and a Swim Instructor. She loves to teach kids. "I love knowing that I’m making a difference in their lives. Watching them smile and grow makes my heart happy," she said. The staff at SWIMkids USA chose her as this Employee of the Quarter because of her great attitude and willingness to help out.
She and her husband Jamal married five years ago and have three dogs and over 45 fish. In her free time, she enjoying being with family, bicycling, walking her dogs, and going to the movies.
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 Matt Jordan | Gym and Aquatic Instructor
Matt Jordan is a native Arizonan, attending Scottsdale’s Chaparral High School where his parents teach. He started doing gymnastics at age five and competing at age eight; as well as running track. He graduated in Sociology from Arizona State University in 2010. After working at Southwest Gymnastics, he joined SWIMkids USA in 2007 and works as a Gym Instructor and Assist Program Director. When asked about teaching, "I like that I can have such a profound impact on the kids and inspire them to grow into well-rounded individuals," says Matt. In his free time, he enjoys being with his wife and leisure reading.
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 Melissa Sutton | Operations Director, Event Coordinator and Aquatic Instructor
A graduate of the University of Utah, holding a bachelor of science in pre-med biology as well as a two year post-graduate certificate in non-profit management from Arizona State University, Melissa is the special events manager and an aquatic instructor for SWIMkids USA. Melissa came to SWIMkids USA from primarily the non-profit field, formerly granting celebrity athlete wishes at Make-A-Wish Foundation. She is also the owner of Risinger Consulting and Event planning, an event planning firm. Melissa’s other community involvement has included serving as a volunteer for the Arizona chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a former officer in the East Valley Rotary Club, a mentor for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation’s Team-In-Training program, and as an advisor for several Valley non-profit organizations through Arizona State University’s school of Non-Profit Management. In her free time, Melissa enjoys traveling, scuba diving, skiing, spending time with her husband, sons, family and friends, as well as training for marathons and triathlons while raising funds for causes close to her heart.
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 Sami White | Aquatic Instructor, Deck Manager and Customer Service Representative
Sami White joined SWIMkids USA in 2010 after being captain of her high school swim team. She enjoys working with kids because, "They tell you exactly what is on their minds and they always smile and make you happy." She is currently studying radiology at Mesa Community College. In her free time, she likes swimming, hiking, going to the lake, and goofing around with her family.
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 Sarah Cherry | Scheduling Manager, Booking Manager and Aquatic Instructor
Sarah Cherry’s passion is working with children. "There is nothing more rewarding then watching a child progress emotionally, physically, socially and mentally," according to Sarah. Having been a former swimmer and competitive cheerleader, Sarah enjoys being active and spending time outdoors in the hot Arizona sun, especially with her best friend and husband, Brenden. Sarah has been a member of the SWIMkids USA family since 2006, including taking a leave of absence for 18 months to live in Eastern Europe in Latvia. Helping others while submersed in Latvian language and culture, Sarah found life changing and eye-opening. She looks forward one day to having children of her own.
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 Shana Wakefield
Shana Wakefield began teaching dance and acrobatics at the age of 14. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater Arts-Dance from the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point with emphasis in dance education, movement analysis and theory, kinesiology, and injury prevention. She spent 15 years teaching dance in Wisconsin prior to moving to Arizona. She choreographed several musicals and plays including Oliver, Olympus on My Mind, The Heidi Chronicles and By George: A Gershwin Review.
Her experience in Arizona includes teaching at the Mesa Arts Center, C&S Dance Center, Westwood High School, and Master classes at various local studios. She joined SWIMkids USA in 2002. In her free time, she loves to hike, rollerblade, swim and read with her three children.
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 Shaunna Risinger | Business Director, Booking Manger and Aquatic Instructor
Shaunna has worked for SWIMkids USA since 2004. She is the Business Manager and still gets in the pool 3 days a week. Currently, she is pursuing her Bachelor degree in family studies and child development. Her past employment was with the Grand Traverse County Fire Department as a firefighter and is currently a certified EMT-B.
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